FT Latam Viva For 30 September, 2016

	6:47 PM (8 minutes ago)
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Give peace a chance By Andres Schipani  September 29, 2016 It was definitely not Charles De Gaulle marching through liberated Paris. Still, the ceremony of the signing of the peace agreement between Colombia’s government of President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) in Cartagena was quite emotional. A choir of Afro-Colombian women, victims of a massacre, hailed the moment, singing "we feel very happy the Farc will leave their weapons behind". Meanwhile, miles away on the same day, after ten of years imagining he was dead, a mother was reunited with her son who had joined the rebels as a teenager. In Cartagena, some 2,000 people including victims dressed in white as a symbol of peace wept, sang, and cheered "no more war" as Mr Santos and the Farc's commander shook hands to agree to end a five-decades drug-fuelled war. One of the world's oldest conflicts has finally come to an end. Well, not yet. On Sunday, 34m Colombians are entitled to head to the polls in a national referendum to vote on a simple but emotionally-charged question: "Do you support the final accord to end the conflict and build a stable and lasting peace?" Every peace agreement is a compromise. With divisions running deep, the success or failure of the peace accord will be a function of the personal feelings of millions of Colombians who abhor Farc rebels for their heinous crimes. Just as Brexit divided the UK, the peace accord has triggered ambivalence, splitting Colombia between opposing camps. When it comes to divided societies, bondholders can now put their faith in an Opec deal for the highly-polarised Venezuela to make good on its debts. After failing to entice investors with a bond swap, the state oil company sweetened the deal as tries at all costs to stave off default. Many wonder what would happen to Venezuela's $68bn in outstanding foreign bond debts if the country, which is battling its worst economic and political crisis in decades, is drawn into an internecine fight. They, like the Colombians, should perhaps listen to John Lennon and "give peace a chance." Quote of the week “From now on our only weapons will be words" - Farc's top commander, Rodrigo Londoño, nom de guerre Timochenko, at the signing of the peace deal. Special reports Emerging Voices Clarissa Campolina — Winner, film award The Mint Economies The New Argentina Other views Beyondbrics Colombia’s peace deal opens the door to British business EM Squared (££) Is Argentina’s investment revival under way?   Venezuela: teetering on the edge of default Venezuela: lurching towards political change Chart of the week As Donald Trump rallies, the Mexican peso falls. ¿Prefiere leer el FT en español? Lea una selección de nuestros artículos en español:  Objetivos de ventas poco realistas conducen al desastre empresarial El acuerdo de paz de Colombia, a votación Venezuela avanza tambaleante hacia el cambio político The week in review Farc accord is no done deal as Colombians prepare to vote   Most Colombians are deeply ambivalent about something the rest of the world enthusiastically supports     Opec output cut a boon for US shale sector   The higher prices rises, the more rigs can be put back to work, writes Ed Crooks     In charts: Mexico’s Trump rate dilemma   Central bank faces tough choice at last scheduled policy meeting before US election     Elliott pushes for shake-up at Colombia’s Avianca airline   US hedge fund holds talks with senior executives     Turnround starts at scandal-hit Petrobras   New chief begins gargantuan task of reviving oil group by cutting its vast debts     Oil group PDVSA sweetens debt swap offer   Bonds boosted by Venezuelan group’s new proposal of $5.3bn deal     Colombia: ‘Leave the rifles behind’   The country prepares to vote on a peace accord with leftwing rebels to end five decades of conflict     Venezuela’s desperate attempt to avoid bond default   Government and oil company’s assets at risk if Caracas fails to meet its obligations     Brazilians seek political renewal in poll   Voters jaded by corruption look for fresh faces in local elections     Footprints of Colombia’s five decade-long civil war   As half a century of violence comes to an end, the country’s film-makers are shifting their focus to what will be left behind     Brazilian director Daniel Ribeiro on making films beyond the favelas   The 34-year-old artist has won international recognition by exploring universal themes from angst to sexuality     Colombia and Farc sign historic peace deal   Marxist rebels to form political party as western-hemisphere’s longest-running conflict ends     China visitors draw Castro into public eye   Former Cuban president meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his wife     Venezuela: lurching towards political change   The country’s crisis is nearing its endgame but its future is far from clear     Colombia peace deal with Farc spurs hope of a family reunion   Accord after long and bitter civil war raises chance of bringing mother and son back together